Forced disappearances, shootings, executions, hostage-taking — since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Russia has been targeting both Ukrainian and foreign journalists covering the conflict. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports on three years of violence against these media professionals and pays tribute to the courage of those who continue to keep the public informed despite the incredible risks.

Since February 24, 2022, thousands of journalists have covered Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, despite the highly dangerous environment marked by indiscriminate Russian strikes and targeted attacks on journalists and civilian infrastructure. RSF documents the three years of violence waged against media professionals:

13 journalists killed by Russian forces

In 2024, two media professionals lost their lives while covering Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, bringing the total number of reporters killed since 2022 to 13, 12 of whom died on Ukrainian soil. Ryan Evans, a security advisor for the British news agency Reuters, was killed on 24 August 2024 in a bombing of his hotel in Kramatorsk, a city in eastern Ukraine. Less than two months later, on 10 October, the family of Ukrainian freelance journalist Victoria Roshchyna received an official letter from Russian authorities announcing her death. Detained since August 2023, she is believed to have died on 19 September 2024. Moscow still refuses to disclose the circumstances of her death or return her body to her relatives.

At least 47 journalists injured

RSF has recorded at least 47 Ukrainian and foreign journalists injured while reporting due to attacks by Russian armed forces. The capital city, Kyiv, and the eastern regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Luhansk are particularly dangerous zones for media workers. Many reporters have been deliberately targeted or caught under fire while working at newsrooms or other locations frequented by journalists, such as hotels. Some have fallen victim to double strikes — a lethal tactic where a site is bombed a second time, targeting those who come to cover the aftermath of the initial attack.

18 Ukrainian journalists detained by Russia

Eighteen Ukrainian journalists are currently detained by Russia after being mainly arrested in occupied Ukrainian territories for refusing to collaborate. Nine have been sentenced by Russian courts, falsely accused of ““terrorism” or “espionage”. They are held in inhumane and degrading conditions, sometimes thousands of kilometers from Ukraine, and denied medical care — even those with fragile health conditions, such as Iryna Danilovych, a Ukrainian journalist from Crimea arrested in April 2022.

One journalist missing

One Ukrainian journalist is currently missing. Zhanna Kyselova, editor-in-chief of local newspaper Kakhovska Zorya — which shut down after the 24 February 24 2022 invasion — was arrested on 27 June 2024, at her home in Kakhovka, a city in the Kherson region, by Russian occupation forces. No information has been provided by Moscow on her whereabouts or the location of her detention.

23 strikes on television and radio towers

Television and radio towers have been directly targeted by Russian strikes as part of a strategy aimed at disrupting the dissemination of independent news. Since 24 February 2022, RSF has recorded 23 strikes on Ukrainian television towers. Some, such as the tower in Kharkiv, a city in northeastern Ukraine, have been hit multiple times. RSF has referred these bombings of media infrastructure to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as war crimes.

329 media outlets shut down

Since 24 February 2022, according to RSF Ukrainian partner IMI, 329 Ukrainian media outlets have ceased operations. They have been hard hit by the collapse of the advertising market, staff shortages due to conscription and exile, and the consequences of bombings and Russian occupation. US President Donald Trump’srecent decision to suspend US international aid through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has further weakened the sector, as most Ukrainian media depend on international funding — especially USAID — and require long-term financial support to continue operating. This issue is highlighted in the RSF report "From Resilience to Recovery: Securing the Future of Ukrainian Media."

RSF supports journalists in Ukraine through its Press Freedom Center in Kyiv and assistance grants for journalists and media outlets. Since 24 February2022, thanks to partnerships with Ukrainian organizations like IMI, over 1,900 reporters and 270 media outlets have received RSF support.

Ukraine and Russia rank 61st and 162nd, respectively, out of the 180 countries and territories surveyed in the 2024 RSF World Press Freedom Index.